• Question: is there anything in specific you are currently working on?

    Asked by anon-175281 to Alison, Alex on 12 Jun 2018.
    • Photo: Alison Hughes

      Alison Hughes answered on 12 Jun 2018:


      I am specifically working on how light effects the growth of microalgae. Microalgae are microscopic organisms (living things) that you may see as a green “scum” on ponds and lakes. They are photosynthetic, which means they need carbon dioxide and light to grow, like plants. Light is a form of energy that gives the plant or microalgae “fuel” to survive and grow. Light is made of 7 main colours, the colours of the rainbow. Each colour, and shade of each colour, has a different amount of energy. Blue has the highest, and red has the lowest. My research looks at what light (energy) microalgae grow best at, and if that affects their ability to produce useful chemicals such as pigments and medicines.

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